THE SHELF

“The Independence of Woman—is
it right or wrong ?—that is the tremulous, doddering
head of it. Is a woman the equal of a man?
May a woman engage in all that a man may ?—
those are its withered skinny legs. Is a woman
born to be free ? Has a woman a genuine or a
sham intelligence ?”— Menie Muriel Dowie

Menie Muriel Dowie (1867-1945), British novelist, essayist, feminist, and independent career woman, poses these questions at the beginning of her book, Women adventurers :the lives of Madame Velazquez, Hannah Snell, Mary Anne Talbot, and Mrs. Christian Davies. London : T.F. Unwin, 1893. Her compilation offers the fascinating and entertaining stories of four fiercely independent women who are notable for their unusual exploits while disguised as male soldiers. Granted, the tales of Velazquez, Snell, Talbot, and Davies were derived from unsubstantiated sources, second and third-hand accounts, legends, and rather dubious facts. Nonetheless, Dowie presents these women as extraordinary risk takers, not to be emulated or applauded for taking on the “masculine” role of armed combatants, but for their exceptional mental acuity, resourcefulness, resilience, and canniness to live life on their own terms.

“…I look forward to the day when no howl of
amazement, no blare of delight, will rise up
whenever a woman chances to have evinced the
bravery, the intelligence, or the foresight which
is expected of men” — Menie Muriel Dowie

Lt. Harry T. Buford a.k.a Loreta Janeta Velazquez

…and without her disguise

Hannah Snell (1723–1792) borrowed a male suit from her brother-in-law in search for the husband, who had deserted her. Even though she did not find him, she maintained her disguise, eventually joining the British Marines where she was sent to India and supposedly fought in the battle of Devicotta. Though she was wounded in the engagement, she somehow managed to keep her identity hidden. Only after some five years past did she reveal her sex to her military unit, at which point, she pleaded for a honorable discharge and pension, which was surprisingly granted by the British Crown. Afterwards, she sold her unusual story to publishers and even went on tour dressed in her uniform telling her adventures and performing songs.

James Gray a.k.a. Hannah Snell

Description:

Women adventurers :the lives of Madame Velazquez, Hannah Snell, Mary Anne Talbot, and Mrs. Christian Davies. London : T.F. Unwin, 1893.

Persistent Link:

http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:10738523

Repository:

Widener Library

Institution:

Harvard University

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